Cato Podcast

Federal budget deficits are projected to remain alarmingly high for many years to come, but as Cato's Ryan Bourne notes, things that can't go on ... don't. His  new paper on debt, spending, and fiscal crisis is available today . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When countries impose tariffs, that begins a chain reaction that frequently doesn't end in the outcomes preferred by tariff advocates. Erica York of the Tax Foundation separates  fact from fiction on tariffs . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bitcoin miners are under the microscope for what some call "parasitic" consumption of energy, but is distaste for some consumers of electricy enough to make it harder for them to buy it? Cato's Nick Anthony and Travis Fisher explain the implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Income taxes are on pace to increase on virtually all Americans in 2026. Cato's Adam Michel has some reforms in mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been 45 years since the US made certain  promises to Taiwan  in the form of the Taiwan Relations Act, so what exactly has the US committed to provide? Eric Gomez discusses the strategic ambiguity of those American promises. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Human freedom and prosperity go together, but what does that look like specifically?  Cato adjunct John Early explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would a tax on unrealized income produce big dividends for Americans? Economic historian  Phil Magness  says the predicted revenues wouldn't materialize. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US continues to provide Israel with roughly  $3.8 billion annually in addition to other arms deals and security benefits . What exactly the United States gets in return for this relationship remains unclear. Jon Hoffman explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are several ways the  Securities and Exchange Commission could be reformed  to make the agency more welcoming to regulatory comments, align its actions with statutory authority, and follow proper administrative procedures. Jennifer Schulp explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid the shifting ideological commitments among the voting public, how welcoming will voters be toward more liberty-friendly ideas?  Stephanie Slade  of  Reason  comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Separating credible election reforms from those born of conspiracy theories is a valuable task, especially when some current proposed reforms threaten to make elections slower, less efficient, and less secure. Walter Olson  provides details . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If markets demand parking, it will largely be provided. In so many cases, however, it's governments setting the rules for how much parking must be provided for new housing or commercial ventures. Requiring all that parking raises costs and make lots of unique development unaffordable. Author  M. Nolan Gray  explains why markets are generally far better at setting the right mix. Hosted on...

The wage-price spiral is a popular explanation for why a temporary inflation might persist or even accelerate. Economist  Bryan Cutsinger  says  the wage-price spiral narrative is unsupported by the empirical evidence . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The growth in the size and scope of government can be understood along multiple dimensions. Economist Abigail Hall has studied  crisis and the growth of government in the context of nuclear proliferation . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump-supporting organizations are hoping that making it easier to fire career bureaucrats will make achieving the presidential hopeful's agenda easier. Cato's Tom Firey has some bad news for that plan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fears around children’s and teenagers’ online safety are basically as old as the internet itself. That's no reason to abridge the rights of young people online. Jennifer Huddleston explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Justice accuses Apple of behaving like a monopoly. Patrick Hedger of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and Cato's Jennifer Huddleston discuss the merits of the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ability of private schools to better meet parent demand compared with public schools may help explain rising demand for private school education. Neal McCluskey explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An engineer and brewer thought he would take up home distilling as a hobby, but he then learned it's a federal crime. In  Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury , he's fighting back. The Buckeye Institute's Robert Alt explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fine concepts, but DEI offices on college campuses appear to have fostered a problematic culture. Greg Lukianoff is coauthor of  The Canceling of the American Mind . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yonas Fikre , a US citizen, challenged his placement on the federal No Fly List and the feds removed him from the list. Did that moot the case? The Supreme Court says "no." Tommy Berry and Patrick Eddington explain why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Yonk is coauthor of  The China Dilemma?: Rethinking US-China Relations Through Public Choice Theory . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women tend to prefer more children than they have. How much can expanding economic freedom shrink the gap? Economist  Clara E. Piano  details her research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

War games are supposed to help train the military, expose weaknesses, and provide guidance on resource allocation. That last part can provide an incentive to game the war gaming system. Economist  Garrett Wood  comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subsidizing both the buying and selling of homes in a seller's market means most of the subsidy will be absorbed by sellers. Mark Calabria explains why the President's plan won't create much new housing and offers some better ways to help Americans secure affordable housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.